2 Samuel 14:13

The woman asked, “Why have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, since he has not brought back his own banished son?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The unnamed woman speaks to King David immediately after he grants her audience to present a hypothetical legal case. She addresses him during a strategic appeal designed to force him to judge his own pending decision regarding Absalom.

The words — The verb חָשַׁבְתָּה (cha.Shav.tah) translates literally as "have you planned" or "devised," while the phrase עַל־עַם אֱלֹהִים ('al-'am 'E.lo.Him) means "against the people of God." These terms frame the king’s hypothetical ruling as a deliberate act that harms the community he represents.

The thread — The appeal to the king’s self-conviction parallels Nathan’s confrontation in 2 Samuel 12:7 regarding David’s failure to administer justice. The designation "people of God" aligns with the corporate assembly language found in Judges 20:2 and the communal identity established in the surrounding narrative.

Why it lands — The text requires a leader to acknowledge how his own pronouncements contradict his personal actions and neglect his duties. It demands that the reader confront the gap between declaring justice and refusing to enact it in his own household.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va./To.merand/ she said הָֽאִשָּׁ֔הha./'i.Shahthe/ woman וְלָ֧מָּהve./La./mahand/ <to>/ why?חָשַׁ֛בְתָּהcha.Shav.tahhave you planned כָּזֹ֖אתka./Zotlike/ this עַל־'al-on עַ֣ם'am[the] people of אֱלֹהִ֑ים'E.lo.HimGod וּמִדַּבֵּ֨רu./mi/d.da.Berand/ <from>/ because has spoken הַמֶּ֜לֶךְha./Me.lekhthe/ king הַדָּבָ֤רha./da.Varthe/ word הַזֶּה֙ha./Zeh<the>/ this כְּאָשֵׁ֔םke./'a.Shemlike/ a guilty [person]לְבִלְתִּ֛יle./vil.Tito/ not הָשִׁ֥יבha.Shivto bring back הַמֶּ֖לֶךְha./Me.lekhthe/ king אֶֽת־'et-<obj.>נִדְּחֽוֹ׃ni.de.Ch/obanished [son]/ his

King James Version

And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.

Cross-references

2 Samuel 13:37 Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But David mourned for his son every day.
2 Samuel 12:7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
Judges 20:2 The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords.
1 Kings 20:40 But while your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.” And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you have pronounced it on yourself.”
2 Samuel 7:8 Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.
Luke 7:42 When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”